Cameron University seeks volunteers for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

On Monday, January 17, 2011, volunteers from Cameron University and the Lawton-Fort Sill community will celebrate "a day on, not a day off" in service to the community as part of the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers will work on various projects throughout the Lawton-Fort Sill community. CU officials are hoping to recruit 450 volunteers for the event and various service projects throughout the community. To volunteer, register online at www.cameron.edu/mlkcelebration/dayofservice or call the Office of Student Activities at (580) 581-2217.

“Cameron’s volunteer squad continues to grow as we commit our time on the MLK Day of Service,” says Zeak Naifeh, Director of Student Activities. “The volunteer spirit that exists in the Lawton-Fort Sill area will propel our service projects to completion. It is a joy to know that we can rely on the efforts of so many public-minded individuals in this community as we work together to improve the quality of life throughout the region.”

Cameron’s volunteers will donate their time for a variety of community service projects in the Lawton-Fort Sill community, including Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, Lawton Food Bank, Roadback, The Sanctuary and Owens Center. Breakfast and lunch will be served to volunteers.

Initiated by Congress in 1994, the King Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a school or senior center, or it may meet a need of the spirit, such as building a sense of community or mutual responsibility. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that:

Strengthen CommunitiesDr. King recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Through his words and example, Dr. King challenged individuals to take action and lift up their neighbors and communities through service.

Empower IndividualsDr. King believed each individual possessed the power to lift himself or herself up no matter what his or her circumstances. Whether teaching literacy skills, helping an older adult surf the Web, or helping an individual build the skills needed to acquire a job, acts of service can help others improve their own lives while doing so much for those who serve, as well.

Bridge BarriersIn his fight for civil rights, Dr. King inspired Americans to think beyond themselves, look past differences and work toward equality. Serving side by side, community service bridges barriers between people and teaches us that in the end, we are more alike than we are different.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans joined in volunteer service projects across the country as part of the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama joined cabinet secretaries, elected officials, nonprofit and business leaders, and Americans of all ages

and backgrounds in rolling up their sleeves to honor Dr. King's legacy through service. More than 10,000 service projects took place in all 50 states, addressing a multitude of pressing social issues from poverty and hunger to homelessness and Haitian relief efforts.

For more information on the Martin Luther King Day of Service, go to www.mlkday.gov.